In this article, we will introduce the 30 best beautiful and safe tourist destinations in Mexico. If you want to see the top 10, please go directly to “The 10 best beautiful and safe tourist destinations in Mexico”.
A leading predictor of the health of the global economy, travel and tourism is one of the world’s most important industries that was completely devastated when COVID-19 hit. Lockdowns and travel restrictions nearly shut down the sector in the early days of the pandemic. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that the industry lost $4.5 trillion in GDP and 62 million jobs in 2020 alone.
However, according to WTTC’s 2023 Economic Impact Review (EIR), the Travel & Tourism industry is showing strong signs of recovery. Not only has the industry recovered by more than 95%, it is expected to reach $9.5 trillion this year, just 5% below its contribution to 2019’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Additionally, 34 countries have already exceeded their 2019 Travel GDP levels.
This turnaround demonstrates the resilience of the travel industry and the sustainability of travel demand. However, according to a World Tourism Organization report, a full recovery in the travel industry is expected to occur in 2024, driven by steadily increasing Chinese tourist numbers. Moreover, by 2033, the travel industry is expected to employ 430 million people worldwide, accounting for 12% of the workforce, and contribute $15.5 trillion (11.6% of GDP) to the global economy.
In this context, investors can turn to some of the top companies that stand to benefit from a thriving travel and tourism sector, including Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) and Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB).
Founded in August 2008, Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) provides a service that allows travelers to book and manage accommodations. On August 3, Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2023, reporting GAAP EPS of $0.98, beating market expectations by $0.20. Revenue for the period was $2.48 billion, up 18.1% compared to revenue in the same period last year.
American travel technology company Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) has reached 21,600 employees in 2022. The company beat market expectations for earnings per share and revenue in the second quarter. According to Insider Monkey’s Q2 database, there are 78 hedge funds that are bullish on Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG), up from 77 in the previous quarter.
Below are some commentary from Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) during its Q2 2023 earnings call.
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“Second quarter room nights were 268 million, up 9% year over year, and total bookings were $39.7 billion, up 15% year over year and the highest quarterly gross bookings on record. Both room nights and total bookings exceeded our previous expectations due to a favorable demand environment. Second quarter revenue growth was 27%, also well above our expectations. Strong second quarter sales, combined with better-than-expected marketing efficiencies, led to second quarter adjusted EBITDA of approximately $1.8 billion, up 64% year over year and well above our previous growth guidance of approximately 35%.”
With this in mind, despite rising interest rates, rising inflation, and fears of a recession, Americans remain keen to travel in 2023. According to an online survey of 1,000 Americans who are planning to travel in 2023, commissioned by Forbes and conducted by market research firm OnePoll, 87% of respondents said they plan to travel the same amount as last year, and nearly 50% said they expect to travel more.
Meanwhile, Mexico is expected to welcome more than 38 million international tourists in 2022, a figure that is expected to reach nearly 40 million this year. Mexico is a popular vacation destination for Americans, having welcomed about 29 million American tourists in 2021. However, that same year, about 75 Americans were killed in homicides in Mexico. Additionally, in March of this year, armed men opened fire on a group of four Americans in broad daylight shortly after they drove into the city of Matamoros, killing two Americans.
If so, is it safe to travel to the country? Safety levels vary greatly depending on the area of Mexico.
The US Department of State issues travel advisories for each state in Mexico to inform US citizens traveling there of potential safety risks. These advisories range from Level 1 to Level 4. Level 1 areas urge people to take normal precautions, while Level 2 areas urge people to be extra cautious. Meanwhile, travelers should reconsider visiting Level 3 areas and not travel to areas that are currently at Level 4. The State Department updated its Mexico travel advisories in August of this year.
The states of Tamaulipas, Sinaloa, Guerrero, Colima, Michoacan, and Zacatecas are among six of Mexico’s 32 total states that have received a “do not travel” advisory from the U.S. State Department. Zamora de Hidalgo in Michoacan, for example, is one of the most dangerous cities in Mexico, with an estimated 200 deaths per 100,000 people, the highest murder rate of any city in the country.
Also see our article on the top 15 most dangerous cities in Mexico.
Additionally, the US has warned people to “reconsider” travel to seven states, including Baja California, Chihuahua, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos and Sonora, while the remaining 19 Mexican states are under a Level 1 or Level 2 travel advisory (fairly safe, the same as those applied to countries like France, Spain and Italy).
This means that Mexico is full of beautiful and safe tourist destinations. For example, Yucatan and Campeche, the safest states in Mexico (Level 1), are home to many amazing attractions, such as the world-famous Chichen Itza ruins, Valladolid, the city of Merida (one of the safest places to vacation with families), El Cuyo, Izamal, the city of Campeche, and many more.
Don’t miss: The 20 best places to retire in Mexico
Likewise, Mexico City, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Los Cabos, Cancun, Oaxaca City, and Todos Santos are some of the safest places to travel in Mexico in 2023. While these locations are generally safe for visitors, it is important to remember that you should still take the necessary security steps and be aware of your surroundings.
30 Beautiful and Safe Places to Visit in Mexico
Our Methodology
In this article, we have adopted an opinion-based, consensus-based ranking method to determine the most beautiful and safest places to visit in Mexico. We gathered information from a variety of reliable sources, including Nomad Capitalist, USA Today, Mexico Insider, and more. Each place was given a score based on the number of mentions, with a score of 1 every time a place was mentioned. Therefore, the more mentions and references, the higher the article’s score and rank.
Please note: All locations listed below are in states that are currently under Level 1 and Level 2 travel advisories.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the 30 best places to visit in Mexico that are both beautiful and safe.
The best beautiful and safe tourist spots in Mexico
30. Loreto
The charming Mexican town of Loreto, in the hills of Baja California Sur, is famous for water activities like whale watching, sport fishing and snorkeling with sea lions.
Plus, it’s long been considered one of the safest places to travel in Mexico.
29. El Pescadero
Just an hour’s drive from Cabo San Lucas, El Pescadero is a small village with clean, safe beaches perfect for surfing and fishing.
28. Las Coloradas
Located in the beautiful and safe state of Mexico, on the Yucatan Peninsula, Las Coloradas is a fantastic tourist attraction that will enchant you with its pink lake and diverse flora and fauna.
27. Huasteca Potosina
The Huasteca Potosina region of San Luis Potosí is a paradise for nature lovers, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, and it also has a low crime rate.
26. Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres, meaning “Island of Women,” is one of Mexico’s top tourist destinations, beautiful and safe, and a popular place for swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing on the beach.
25. Akumal
Akumal, a coastal resort town in Quintana Roo, is a beautiful and safe destination in Mexico for those who want to enjoy white sand beaches, coral reefs, warm waters and sea turtles.
24. El Cuyo
One of the safest places in Mexico, El Cuyo is located on the Yucatan Peninsula. This sleepy fishing village has miles of beautiful sandy beaches.
23. Valladolid
Valladolid is just a pleasant two-hour bus ride from Cancun, Tulum and Playa del Carmen and is known for its colonial architecture and unique heritage.
22. Holbox Island
Holbox Island is located about three hours from Cancun and is known for its natural beauty, featuring white sand beaches and shallow blue waters. The island is home to an abundance of marine and bird life, including whale sharks, flamingos, herons, dolphins and manta rays.
Although it is one of Mexico’s most beautiful and safest tourist destinations, visitors should exercise the same caution as in any foreign destination.
21. Isamar
Nicknamed the “Yellow City”, Izamal is one of the most beautiful towns in the state of Yucatán and one of the safest places in Mexico for tourists. One of its main attractions is the enormous Convent of San Antonio de Padua.
20. Suytun Cenote
A fantastic tourist destination, Suytun Cenote is a breathtaking natural sinkhole. Located in Yucatán, one of Mexico’s most beautiful and safest states, it attracted over 3.2 million tourists in 2019.
19. Chichen Ista
Located just 200 kilometers from Cancun, Chichen Ista served as a sacred Mayan site for nearly 700 years and was chosen as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a global vote in 2007.
The archaeological site is expected to welcome 521,000 visitors in the first quarter of 2022, making it one of Mexico’s safest and most beautiful tourist destinations.
18. Puerto Escondido
Known for its surfing, Puerto Escondido is a coastal town in the state of Oaxaca and is one of Mexico’s most beautiful and safest tourist destinations.
17. San Jose del Cabo
The state of Baja California Sur, where San Jose del Cabo is located, is under a Level 2 travel advisory, with travelers advised to exercise increased caution.
16. Los Cabos
Located in Mexico’s Baja California Sur state, Los Cabos is known for its beautiful beaches, world-class golf courses, outdoor activities and low crime rate, which draws more than three million tourists to the region each year.
15. La Paz
La Paz, the capital of Mexico’s Baja California Sur state, has a lot to offer, including great beaches, outdoor activities and restaurants with views of the calm blue water.
Plus, while this may be one of the safest areas in the country, as every tourist knows, you always have to worry about some kind of crime.
14. Cozumel
Cozumel, an island town off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, is one of Mexico’s most incredible scuba diving and snorkeling destinations, with plenty of coral reefs and underwater caves to explore.
The crime rate is also surprisingly low.
13. San Cristobal de las Casas
San Cristóbal de las Casas is a safe, beautiful city known for its indigenous culture, cobblestone streets and stunning architecture, located in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas.
12. Sayulita
An attractive destination for nature lovers and surfers, Sayulita is a safe, friendly town in the state of Nayarit that welcomes visitors.
11. Oaxaca City
Oaxaca City is the textile jewel of southern Mexico, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It is one of the most beautiful and safest tourist destinations in Mexico.
Click to keep reading to see the top 10 beautiful and safe places to visit in Mexico.
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Disclosures: None. The post 30 Best Beautiful and Safe Places to Visit in Mexico originally appeared on Insider Monkey.
